SARASOTA (SNN-TV) – We’re just a little over 24 hours until Week 4 of Friday Football Fever commences, so today we preview our Game of the Week. This time around we spotlight this year’s Banana Bowl.
A battle of two undefeated teams is set for tomorrow night at Sarasota High School, between the Venice Indians and Sarasota Sailors. Venice enters this contest as the # team in the state in 8-A, following their tightly contested match up last week with Cocoa. Per usual, the Indians strength of schedule is unmatched, but Coach John Peacock says the Sailors are certainly not a team to overlook.
“They are right up there with the Miami-Northwestern’s, and the Cocoa’s, and the Edgewater’s. We’re going to have our hands full. Looking at the season to start off, we were thinking we might have maybe an easy go with it against Sarasota, but watching their film, they’re one of the top teams in the state.”
The Sailors have put up stellar numbers the last two weeks, defeating both North Port and Booker by a combined 110 points, while shutting both teams out in the process. That’s a stat that doesn’t go unnoticed by Venice QB, senior Ryan Browne.
“The last two games they’ve played they’ve shut both team out. So I think a big thing for us is to put points on the board, because they’ve got a good defense. That’s a big thing that we could do.”
The offense for the Sailors has been clicking on all cylinders, with QB Lance Trippel in the driver’s seat. Trippel, playing in only his second season of organized football, has shown massive progression this year according to Head Coach Brody Wiseman.
“He’s really understanding what we’re doing offensively very well. The game’s really slowed down for him. He’s getting a little bit more protection, but as far as what he’s able to do as a Quarterback, he’s not a guy who’s necessarily dependent upon having time a whole lot. He’s able to get the ball out pretty quick. He’s been doing a very good job of that lately.”
With Trippel’s 737 yards passing and 12 TD’s, he ranks as a top-15 QB in the state in terms of stats, but Trippel doesn’t do it alone. Receiver TJ McKay certainly aids in that process, connecting with Trippel on all 12 of those TD’s. McKay has the utmost confidence in the Sailors offense, who he has says, is catching fire at the right time.
“After years of not being one of the best teams in the area, now offense-wise, we got a new coaching staff, new players. Finally clicking now.”
Early success being what it is for Sarasota, the Banana Bowl will be a game like none other this season for them and Venice. Indians linebacker Desavion Cassaway recognizes the rivalry as real, and expects a raucous crowd tomorrow night.
“We’ve had a rivalry with these people for a minute, a hot minute. Every time we go there it’s a live audience, everybody’s lit. The game is fun. It’s a lot of intensive energy at these games like this.”
The record will show that this game is a turning point in the season for both squads, for Venice it would help boost energy for games the rest of the way, and for Sarasota it simply helps them realize where they fall, in terms of the top tier programs in the state.
“You know is where you really find out what kind of team you are. Obviously, the past couple teams, a couple of them were easier teams. This (Venice) is the number one team in 8A. This is where we find out who we are. This is where we find our identity.”
Tomorrow night’s game at Cleland Stadium will kickoff at 7:30.
